Perfect Pairings & Recipes for
Tandoori Masala

Top flavour pairings and recipes for tandoori masala, according to analysis of thousands of recipes.

Tandoori masala instantly conjures the evocative embrace of ginger and the kiss of fenugreek, woven with delicate hints of garlic, coriander, and eucalyptus that give it remarkable depth. Understanding how these layered flavours work together is the secret to unlocking tandoori masala's pairing potential.

To chart these harmonies, we analysed thousands of ingredients, each deconstructed across 150 distinct flavour dimensions, pinpointing the notes that best complement this ingredient’s profile. Our exploration reveals, for instance, how the fatty, animalic 4-methyloctanoic acid in lamb leg can enrich tandoori masala, and how bird's eye chilli's capsaicin notes forge a beautiful synergy with its nutty aroma.

An ingredient's flavour stems from its core characteristics, such as spice, herbal, or woody, combined with layers of subtle flavour notes (outer bars). For a balanced dish, pair ingredients with a variety of core flavours, and choose complementary aroma notes for harmony.

The Flavour Code

To understand exactly which flavours harmonise, we compiled a database of over 50,000 ingredient pairings commonly used in cooking. We then analysed these pairings, identifying the specific flavour notes that frequently appear together.

The Flavours That Harmonise With Fenugreek Notes

Our analysis shows that the flavour of fenugreek is strongly associated with the flavour of chilli. This suggests we should look for ingredients with a hot flavour, such as bird's eye chilli, when pairing with the fenugreek notes of tandoori masala.

The recipes below provide inspiration for pairing tandoori masala with bird's eye chilli.

Harmonious Flavours Of Tandoori Masala

Just as our analysis shows that fenugreek and hot flavour notes are often associated, we can identify the full profile of flavours that harmonise with each of the flavour accents present in tandoori masala. For instance, the coriander notes of tandoori masala are strongly associated with sesame and mustardy flavours.

The aroma notes complementing the various accents of tandoori masala can be seen highlighted in the pink bars below.

Matching Flavour Profiles

The flavour profile of lamb leg offers many of the aroma notes complementary to tandoori masala, including ovine and fatty aroma notes. Because the flavour profile of lamb leg has many of the of the features that are complementary to tandoori masala, they are likely to pair very well together.

The chart above shows the unique profile of lamb leg across 150 dimensions of flavour, while the recipes below offer inspiration for bringing these flavours together with tandoori masala.

Recipes That Pair Tandoori Masala With Lamb Leg

Linked Flavour Notes

Looking at the aroma accents that are most strongly associated with the various flavours of tandoori masala, we can identify other ingredients that are likely to pair well.

The left side of the chart above highlights the aroma notes of tandoori masala, along with the complementary aromas associated with each note. While the right side shows some of the ingredients that share many of the aroma accents complementary to tandoori masala.

What To Drink With Tandoori Masala

The ovine notes in oat milk make it a perfect pairing with tandoori masala. Likewise, the capsaicin flavours in chorizo-infused beer create a match made in heaven. Explore a variety of ingredients below that beautifully complement the unique character of tandoori masala below.

Which Vegetables Go With Tandoori Masala?

Choose vegetables that resonate with its warmth or resonate with its nutty aroma. Red chilli and piquillo pepper offer vibrant, clean counterpoints, their verdant freshness lifting the palate. Chayote add a gentle, oniony brightness, while pea introduces a sophisticated, anise-tinged elegance.

Alternatively, embrace vegetables that harmonise with tandoori masala's medicinalness. The addition of sweetcorn, with its subtle ovine notes, can complement the eucalyptus beautifully, while potato lends a sheepy meatiness.

How Flavonomics Works

We've pioneered a unique, data-driven approach to decode the intricate art of flavour pairing. Our goal is to move beyond intuition and uncover the science of why certain ingredients harmonise beautifully. This rigorous methodology allows us to provide you with insightful and reliable pairing recommendations.

Our analysis begins with over 50,000 carefully selected recipes from acclaimed chefs like Galton Blackiston, Marcello Tully, and Pierre Lambinon. This premium dataset ensures our model distils genuine culinary excellence and creativity.

Each ingredient from these recipes is deconstructed across 150 distinct flavour dimensions, creating a unique numerical "flavour fingerprint." This quantification allows us to apply advanced analytical methods to identify complex patterns between flavour notes.

We identify popular ingredient combinations that frequently appear in our recipe database. Regression analysis is then performed on these pairings to statistically validate and pinpoint truly harmonious flavours.

These insights drive our predictive model, which allows us to take any ingredient (e.g., Tandoori masala), analyse its detailed flavour profile, and accurately reveal its complementary flavours and perfect ingredient partners.